India, May 22 -- The UK government has been banned from handing over the disputed Chagos Island to Mauritius due to last-minute legal action.

At 2:25 BST, high court judge Justice Goose granted "interim relief" to two Chagossian women who filed a case against the Foreign Office.

The case filed by the two women - Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe - objected the UK's plan to handover the island to Mauritius, and criticised the lack of consultation of Chagossian people.

"The government's attempt to give away the Chagossians' homeland whilst failing to hold a formal consultation with the Chagossian people is a continuation of their terrible treatment by the authorities in the past," stated Michael Polak, the lawyer for the two women. ...